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Bowling Green State University Athletics
Men's Soccer On The Road This Weekend
September 05, 2000 | Men's Soccer
Sept. 5, 2000
The Bowling Green State University men's soccer team began its 2000 season last weekend by suffering two one-goal setbacks to top-25 teams at the Diadora Challenge in Omaha, Nebraska.
In both matches, BG fell behind 1-0 only to score the equalizer. Southwest Missouri State tallied Saturday's match-winner with just over 20 minutes remaining, while Creighton scored Sunday's game-winning goal at the 87:57 mark.
Senior Adam Erhard (North Olmsted, Ohio) assisted on both Falcon goals in the tournament. Freshman David DeGraff (Naperville, Ill.) made his collegiate debut on Saturday against SMS and made six saves. He responded with eight saves in Sunday's match at Creighton.
In the 2000 season opener, the Falcons faced 13th-ranked Southwest Missouri State in the first game of the tournament. The Bears took a 1-0 lead on a goal Mike Williams at the 23:01 mark with an assist from Mike Cortinas. BG scored the equalizer at 59:39 when senior Matt Lyons (Maineville, Ohio/Cincinnati Moeller) scored off an assist from classmate Adam Erhard (North Olmsted, Ohio). It was Lyons' fourth career goal.
SMS scored the game-winning goal on a free kick from Chris Brunt at the 69:08 mark, while Bears goalkeeper Mark Modersohn was credited with two saves.
In Sunday's match, Creighton took a 1-0 lead on a goal by Brian Mullan that was assisted by Ishmael Mintah at the 23:08 mark. BG senior Fred Degand (Highland Park, Ill./Deerfield) tied the game at one off an assist from classmate Adam Erhard (North Olmsted, Ohio). Degand's goal came with just 2:44 remaining in the first half.
Falcon senior Matt Lyons was issued a red card at the 60:40 mark forcing BG to play the remainder of the match with only 10 players. The Bluejays scored the game-winning goal with only 2:03 remaining in regulation as Mintah was assisted by Todd Hammett.
Bowling Green freshman goalkeeper David DeGraff (Naperville, Ill./Central) made eight saves, while Creighton goalkeeper Mike Gabb made four saves.
Southwest Missouri State defeated Washington, 3-0, in the first game on Saturday and claimed the tournament title based on goal differential (2-0, +4) against Creighton (2-0, +3). The Falcons received third place (0-2, -2) while Washington placed fourth (0-2, -5).
Bowling Green will play in the Coca-Cola Panther Classic hosted by Wisconsin-Milwaukee this weekend. The Falcons face Wisconsin-Green Bay on Saturday and the host Panthers on Sunday. The fourth team in the tournament is Hartford.
The Phoenix of Wisconsin-Green Bay lost five starters from last season's squad but return four of their top five scorers led by senior Nick Lessard (10 goals last season) and junior Brian Giovinazzi (seven goals in 1999). UWGB senior goalkeeper Josh Lynk had seven shutouts last year.
Wisconsin-Green Bay opened the 2000 campaign with a 2-1 loss to Drury on Sept. 1 as Clint Connealy scored the lone goal for the Phoenix. UWGB rebounded two days later with a 2-1 victory over Missouri-Kansas City. The Phoenix will face Loyola on Wednesday in their final tune-up before facing the Falcons.
Wisconsin-Milwaukee has compiled a 1-1 mark this season heading into Wednesday's contest at Northern Illinois. The Panthers lost a 5-1 decision to Marquette on Sept. 1, but handed Northwestern a 5-1 setback on Sunday.
Bobby Lish scored two goals in the win over Northwestern, including one in the ninth minute of the contest to give UWM the lead for good. Scott Dombrski added his first goal of the season two minutes later for a 2-0 lead. Ryan Seymour assisted on those two goals, as well as the Panthers' next two goals, one scored by Blake Bostwick and then Lish's second goal. Daniel Savedra scored UWM's fifth goal to wrap up the scoring.
